ICRF-193 modifies etoposide-induced apoptosis in thymocytes.

Etoposide (VP-16), one of the topoisomerase II (TopoII) inhibitors, interferes with TopoII by inducing the formation of and stabilizing a cleavable enzyme-DNA complex. VP-16 has been demonstrated to induce apoptosis in murine thymocytes. To clarify the mechanism of action of VP-16, we examined the in vitro effect of a non-cleavable-complex-forming type TopoII inhibitor, ICRF-193 which inhibits the DNA strand breakage induced by VP-16, on murine thymocytes in which apoptosis had been induced with VP-16. DNA fragmentation is characteristic of apoptosis. In the early stages, ICRF-193 decreased DNA fragmentation induced by VP-16, although this inhibitory effect decreased in the later. These data suggest that TopoII inhibitors induce apoptosis in murine thymocytes in two ways: with DNA-strand breaks in the early stage or without them. ICRF-193 itself induced apoptosis in murine thymocytes. The time course of DNA fragmentation caused by ICRF-193 was different from that of VP-16.</p

Neuroprotective Efficacy of YM872, an ␣-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5- Methylisoxazole-4-Propionic Acid Receptor Antagonist, after Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats

ABSTRACT The neuroprotective efficacy of YM872, a novel, highly watersoluble ␣-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor antagonist, was investigated in rats subjected to permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery. The rats were assessed either histologically or neurologically 24 hr or 1 wk after ischemia. YM872 was intravenously infused for either 4 or 24 hr at dose rates of 0 to 20 mg/kg/hr starting 5 min after ischemia to examine the effect of prolonged treatment. YM872 was then infused at 20 mg/kg/hr beginning 0 to 4 hr after ischemia to determine the efficacy time window. Additionally, a 20 mg/kg/hr dose rate of YM872 was infused for 4 hr in single day-or 5-day repetitive-administrations to evaluate long-term benefits of the drug. YM872 significantly reduced infarct volume in both 4-and 24-hr treatment groups measured 24 hr after ischemia. No difference was observed in the degree of protection between length of infusion. Significant neuroprotection was maintained even when drug administration was delayed up to 2 hr after ischemia. A single YM872-administration significantly improved neurological deficit and reduced infarct volume (30%, P Ͻ .01) measured 1 wk after ischemia. YM872 treatment did not induce such adverse effects as physiological changes, serious behavioral abnormalities or nephrotoxicity. These data suggest that the ␣-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor plays a crucial role in the progression of neuronal damage in the early phase of ischemia and that YM872 may be useful in treating acute ischemic stroke

給食運営管理実習におけるATP拭き取り検査を用いた衛生教育の効果

目的：給食運営管理実習における手洗い方法の評価と冷蔵庫・保管庫等の扉の取っ手の清掃方法の評価とを衛生教育の前後にATP拭き取り検査で行い，衛生教育の効果を検討した。方法：給食運営管理実習を受講している2年生のうち，29名を対象者とした。対象者が大量調理施設衛生管理マニュアルに従った手洗いを行った後，手指のATP拭き取り検査によって手洗い方法を評価した。また，対象者が分担して清掃している実習室内の冷蔵庫・保管庫等の扉の取っ手を同様に検査し，清掃方法を評価した。1回目の検査後，手洗いと取っ手の清掃が不十分であった場合のあることを対象者に告げ，手洗い方法や取っ手の清掃方法の衛生教育を実施した。衛生教育後に2回目のATP拭き取り検査を行った。手洗い方法及び取っ手の清掃方法の評価では，それぞれのATP発光量が管理基準値以下になった場合を衛生的であると判定した。結果：衛生教育前における手洗い後のATP発光量が管理基準値以下であった者の比率と衛生教育後におけるこの比率との間には，有意な差があるとはいえなかった。扉の取っ手では，衛生教育前における清掃後のATP発光量が管理基準値以下であった取っ手は皆無であったが，衛生教育後においては増加していた。また，いずれの取っ手においても，衛生教育前より衛生教育後の方が低値であった。結論：実施した衛生教育は，扉の取っ手の清掃方法の改善には効果的であったが，手洗い方法においては効果判定を保留する。手洗いについては更なる検討が必要である。また，ATP拭き取り検査は簡便であり，しかも検査結果が検査場所で直ちに判明することから，学生実習において極めて有用である

「明石新のり・恵方巻まつり」における特定健康診査受診勧奨事業への参加報告

　明石市は市民に対する生活習慣病の早期発見につながる特定健康診査の受診勧奨を行うため，2018年の「明石新のり・恵方巻まつり」のメインイベント時にその資料の配布を行うと共に，明石のりを使用した健康レシピの紹介とレシピに基づいた食べ物の無料提供を行うこととした。　この企画にあたり，明石のりを用いた健康レシピの作成依頼とメインイベント時の健康レシピに基づいた食べ物の調理・提供のための依頼協力が明石市からあった。本報告は，このレシピの作成・試作・検食の過程と当日の食べ物の調理・提供状況を記録に留めておくことを目的とする。　まつりに来場した方に対して明石のりを使用した食べ物200食を提供するためのレシピを種々作成した。試作と検食を重ね、最終的に白玉味噌汁を選定した。白玉味噌汁には，粉のりを添加して作成した緑色の団子2個（団子は白玉粉と絹ごし豆腐で作成）と何も添加しない白色の団子1個を入れ，他の具材としてちくわとしめじも入れた。メインイベント当日は，本学の担当者4名と明石市の担当者7名が白玉味噌汁の調理と提供に当たった

Diagnosis of choroidal disease with deep learning-based image enhancement and volumetric quantification of optical coherence tomography

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantify choroidal vessels (CVs) in pathological eyes in three dimensions (3D) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and a deep-learning analysis. Methods: A single-center retrospective study including 34 eyes of 34 patients (7 women and 27 men) with treatment-naïve central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and 33 eyes of 17 patients (7 women and 10 men) with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) or sympathetic ophthalmitis (SO) were imaged consecutively between October 2012 and May 2019 with a swept source OCT. Seventy-seven eyes of 39 age-matched volunteers (26 women and 13 men) with no sign of ocular pathology were imaged for comparison. Deep-learning-based image enhancement pipeline enabled CV segmentation and visualization in 3D, after which quantitative vessel volume maps were acquired to compare normal and diseased eyes and to track the clinical course of eyes in the disease group. Region-based vessel volumes and vessel indices were utilized for disease diagnosis. Results: OCT-based CV volume maps disclose regional CV changes in patients with CSC, VKH, or SO. Three metrics, (i) choroidal volume, (ii) CV volume, and (iii) CV index, exhibit high sensitivity and specificity in discriminating pathological choroids from healthy ones. Conclusions: The deep-learning analysis of OCT images described here provides a 3D visualization of the choroid, and allows quantification of features in the datasets to identify choroidal disease and distinguish between different diseases. Translational Relevance: This novel analysis can be applied retrospectively to existing OCT datasets, and it represents a significant advance toward the automated diagnosis of choroidal pathologies based on observations and quantifications of the vasculature

特別養護老人ホームにおける給食の給与栄養量と食品群別提供量

目的：特別養護老人ホームの入所者への給食の食品群別提供量を明らかにすることを目的とした。併せて，給食のエネルギー量・各種栄養素量（以下，給与栄養量と略記）についての検討もおこなった。方法：神戸市内の特別養護老人ホーム計3施設の管理栄養士から，1年間分の給食（朝食，昼食，間食，夕食）献立のうち，普通食の献立表を入手した。これらより1人1日当たりの給与栄養量及び食品群別提供量を算定した。そして，①給与栄養量と日本人の食事摂取基準2015年版に示された高齢者（70歳以上）の食事摂取基準の値とを比較した。②給与栄養量と平成27年国民健康・栄養調査報告による70歳以上の者の摂取栄養量とを比較した。③食品群別提供量と国民健康・栄養調査報告による70歳以上の者の食品群別摂取量とを比較した。結果：給与栄養量のうち，食物繊維，ビタミンA，ビタミンB1，ビタミンB2，食塩相当量，カルシウム，及びマグネシウムの各栄養素量は，食事摂取基準と差があった。給与栄養量と摂取栄養量とを比較したところ，意味のある差を認めたのは，エネルギーとナトリウムに加え，脂質，炭水化物，食物繊維，ビタミンD，食塩相当量，及び銅であった。食品群別提供量と食品群別摂取量とを比較したところ，果実類，砂糖・甘味料類，豆類，及び油脂類において意味のある差を認めた。結論：特別養護老人ホームで提供している給食の給与栄養量は日本人の食事摂取基準や国民健康・栄養調査報告での摂取栄養量と比較してどのような栄養素について差があったのか，また特別養護老人ホームでの食品群別提供量は国民健康・栄養調査報告での食品群別摂取量と比較してどのような食品群について差があったのかについて明らかにした。今回の給食の給与栄養量及び食品群別提供量の成績は，特別養護老人ホームの1年間に亘る給食提供の実態を明らかにする資料として重要である

Effect of polyp regression and reduction on treatment efficacy in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy treated with aflibercept

Abstract Intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA) has successfully treated polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and polyp morphology is an important indicator of treatment efficacy. However, many studies have not reported the presence or absence of polyp regression and treatment outcomes, and few studies have reported polyp reduction and treatment outcomes in cases with residual polyps. We retrospectively measured the polyp area on indocyanine green angiography images before and after the IVA loading phase and investigated the regression and reduction of polyps and treatment outcomes of 81 eyes with PCV treated with IVA. We investigated the relationship between the presence or absence of complete regression of polyps and the percentage change in the polyp area and treatment outcomes. Eyes with complete polyp regression had significantly better visual acuity improvements compared with baseline at 12 months (P = 0.0108), fewer treatments (P = 0.0024), fewer recurrences during 12-months follow-up (P = 0.0010), and more “dry maculas” at 3 months (P = 0.0048) than eyes in which polyp regression did not occur. A significant correlation was seen only between the percentage of polyp regression and visual acuity at 3 months (P = 0.0395). Regarding IVA therapy for PCV, the presence or absence of complete polyp regression at the end of the loading phase affected the treatment outcome, whereas the degree of polyp reduction in cases of residual polyps had no effect

Expression of p53 and Glutathione S-Transferase-π Relates to Clinical Drug Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

To determine the predictive value of the expression of p53 and glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π) with respect to chemotherapy response, immunostaining was performed on transbronchial biopsy specimens from previously untreated patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Of the 54 patients, 34 patients (63%) and 37 patients (69%) were positive for p53 and GST-π, respectively. The response rates in the p53-positive and p53-negative group were 15 and 45%, and those in GST-π-positive and GST-π-negative groups were 16 and 47%, respectively. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that positive immunostaining for GST-π was a significant risk factor for clinical chemotherapy resistance. The combination of these two markers was the most important independent factor in predicting a response to chemotherapy in multiple logistic regression analysis. Immunohistochemical expression of p53 and GST-π was independently related to clinical chemoresistance in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Combined use of these two biomarkers may be a useful predictor of clinical chemoresistance